Pierre Courteys (French, 1520-1602): A Limoges en-grisaille enamelled bowl depicting the Laocoon ...

Pierre Courteys (French, 1520-1602): A Limoges en-grisaille enamelled bowl depicting the Laocoon and his children the centre painted with the figure of the Laocoon flanked by his sons, writhing serpents entwined around the group, a harbour scene with temple to the background, the plinth beneath the group inscribed in gilt LAOCHOON and bearing indistinct date 1552? , within a gilt foliate interlaced border, the underside with four male maskheads within formalised paper scrolls and further gilt foliate scrolls, the bowl originally part of a pedestal cup or tazza, 20cm diameter, 5cm high Footnotes: Provenance Property of a private Italian collector Limoges in the south west region of France, has been world-famous for producing enamels for centuries. Originating in the 12th century, the industry of decorating metal objects, usually in bronze and brass (and mostly made for ecclesiastical purposes) in champleve coloured enamels, thrived until circa 1370 when a swift decline meant that these precious manufacturing skills were almost lost. However, in the late 15th century the production of enamel returned to the region but with a move to producing more secular objects. With this revival came new techniques including painting the decoration directly onto the enamel rather than gouging out designs then flooding them with enamel. Several notable French workshops emerged with their own distinctive styles who would, in some cases, also sign or punch mark their work. Usually depicting mythological or religious narratives, these wares, often plates, chargers or plaques, became highly prized objects. Perhaps one of the best enamel painters of Limoges, Courteys was probably a disciple of Pierre Reymond working from circa 1550-1568. Courteys is thought to have died in 1602 and many of his works are now in the Louvre in Paris. Literature Suzanne. Higgot, with contributions from Isabell Biron, Susan La Neice, Juanita Navarro and Stefan Rohrs, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Glass and Limoges Painted Enamels, The Trustees of the Wallace Collection, 2011. We would like to thank Suzanne Higgot, curator of Glass, Limoges and painted enamels at The Wallace Collection, London for her kind and generous assistance in cataloguing this lot. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com